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Drug testing has become a routine procedure in many areas of life. It may happen that you will encounter some type of drug test, for example, you as a driver will be asked to pass it. The process of how drugs are screened is quite simple: tests screen for the presence of psychoactive components, mainly tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Despite the fact that cannabidiol (CBD) does not cause a strong impact, a chance that with regular use of CBD products, you will get a positive drug test result. In this article, we analyze such cases.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a unique chemical element of plant origin. It is extracted from the cannabis plant and is often used in the medical field. Besides it, the cannabis plant contains:
The main controversial component due to its properties is THC. THC is a psychoactive element that causes euphoria when used. CBD also has an impact on mental health, but it does not intoxicate the human body as THC. You can compare both CBD and THC effects below:
|
THC |
CBD |
|
impairs short-term memory, judgment, and sensations |
reduce inflammation |
|
alters reaction time and movements |
controls psychosis |
|
increases appetite |
promotes neuroprotection |
|
causes panic and paranoia |
controls anxiety |
|
causes a feeling of being drunk |
prevents vomiting |
|
controls nausea and vomiting |
relieves pain |
|
relieves pain |
Due to The Food and Drug Administration FDA statement, the percentage of THC contained in CBD products should not exceed 0.3%. Then such goods will be considered legal and acceptable for sale [1].
Note that there are three options of CBD products, depending on their composition: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolate.
CBD is not a key indicator in drug screening tests. The result is determined by the quantitative content of psychoactive THC in the human body. However, there is a possibility that a full-spectrum CBD product can ruin your results.
According to an open-label study published in JAMA Psychiatry [2], the possibility exists because THC and CBD have the same origin. Both of these components are synthesized by the same plant. And, although the raw material is refined, there may be trace amounts of THC. While you are consuming full-spectrum CBD products on a regular basis, your body can retain THC and even accumulate it.
If using full-spectrum CBD products is not essential to you, for example, if you do not struggle with migraines, the authors of the study suggest replacing such products with analogs that are certified THC-free. Otherwise, choose products that have been tested by a third party for THC.
How does it happen? As with most drug tests, this one search for THC with the help of antibodies.
There are plenty of factors that may influence drug test results. One of - the regularity of using CBD products – was identified in the same JAMA Psychiatry study mentioned before. It is said that 2 of 6 participants who used CBD-contained products got positive results n a drug test within 4 to 8 hours of administration. During another one-month study, where 14 participants were taking CBD regularly, seven persons (50%) tested positive, so, as you see, the chance of failing the test increases with time.[3]
Dosage is also essential. A low dose of CBD oil almost always guarantees that the drug will be out of your system within 5 days. The American Family Physician (AAFP) has determined how long THC can stay in your body [4]:
|
Regularity of taking the product |
Duration of detectability |
|
Single use |
3 days |
|
Around 4 times per week |
5-7 days |
|
Daily use |
10-15 days |
|
Long-term, heavy use |
more than 30 days |
Note that you are more likely to get positive test results if the amount of THC identified in urine is more than 50 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). If you take a full-spectrum CBD product, we recommend stopping using it at least two weeks before the test.[5]
Blood test is far less popular than the urine test. This is primarily due to the fact that it is possible to determine the presence of drugs in blood cells within 5 hours after ingestion, then THC is absorbed. For comparison: THC metabolites are detectable for up to seven days.
Most often, blood is taken for drug tests when it is necessary to indicate current impairment, for example, in cases of driving under the influence. Six states where CBD is legal settled THC driving limits at either 2 or 5 ng/mL, and one state using 1 ng/mL.[6]
Other variations of drug screening tests in the human body, such as saliva or hair, are less popular and rarely used.
There is always a chance that you will get a positive test result if you take CBD products that contain THC. What other situations may lead to unpropitious consequences?
Due to Penn Medicine study made in 2017, about 70% of tested CBD products contained more or less CBD than advertised. We believe that after all the years passed the situation has improved, but you should not exclude such cases as, for example, incorrect labeling of goods misrepresenting the actual THC dose.
This is a real problem for farmers who specialize in growing cannabis. Often, due to the close planting of varieties with high and low THC content, cross-pollination occurs. This process affects the level of THC in industrial hemp. As a result, crops with unacceptable levels of THC (more than 0.3%) are destroyed, and the entire remaining crop must be tested so that consumers do not come across a product with a significantly higher amount of THC.
Using other drugs may lead to false-positive results for cannabis or THC. Among them, there are Marinol and proton pump inhibitors. False-positive results often occur on a urine drug screen, so you need to prepare in advance.
Since 2018 the sale of CBD products has been regulated by authorities and relevant laws were passed, but there is still a chance that you might get a product that will not meet the declared quality. We advise you to select responsibly. Here are a few tips that will be helpful to you.
We suggest you always check the label, which should contain information about the composition. Note that mentioning “CBD” without clarification if it’s full-spectrum or broad-spectrum means that it is a CBD isolate.
Also, responsible manufacturers add the results of laboratory tests to labels in the form of QR codes or special marks. For isolate and broad-spectrum there is a mark “ND.”
Give preference to broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate if you want to eliminate any chance to fail drug tests. Their effectiveness might be lower than products with THC, but you will be sure that nothing will prevent you from passing the test successfully.
A company that cares about its clients monitors the quality. To create safe CBD products, the company must adhere to certain principles in the selection of suppliers, the processing, and storage of raw materials, and production processes.
What is also important, companies provide certificates and third-party lab reports in the public domain.
[1] FDA Regulation of Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Products, Including Cannabidiol (CBD)
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-regulation-cannabis-and-cannabis-derived-products-including-cannabidiol-cbd
[2] Dahlgren MK, Sagar KA, Lambros AM, et al. Urinary tetrahydrocannabinol after 4 weeks of a full-spectrum, high-cannabidiol treatment in an open-label clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry. ePub ahead of print. November 4, 2020. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.3567
[3] Dahlgren MK, Sagar KA, Lambros AM, et al. Urinary tetrahydrocannabinol after 4 weeks of a full-spectrum, high-cannabidiol treatment in an open-label clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry. ePub ahead of print. November 4, 2020. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.3567
[4] JOHN B. STANDRIDGE, MD, STEPHEN M. ADAMS, MD, AND ALEXANDER P. ZOTOS, MD
Urine Drug Screening: A Valuable Office Procedure, 2010. DOI:
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2010/0301/p635.html
[5] URMC Encyclopedia. Cannabinoid Screen and Confirmation (Urine) DOI:
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=cannabinoid_screen_urine#:~:text=The%20urine%20marijuana%20test%20will,milliliter%20(ng%2FmL).
[6] AACC’s Clinical Chemistry Journal. Current Legal Cannabis Driving Limits in U.S. 2019
DOI:
https://www.aacc.org/media/press-release-archive/2019/03-mar/legal-cannabis-driving-limits-in-us-europe-are-ineffective-aacc-clinical-chemistry-journal
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